The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-04-01
SOME LION AND TIGER STORIES.
Good Reading for the Boys OF the
Household.

Household.
Herr Driesbach's life was full OF re-
mGrkable Incidents and he frequently
took pleasure in relating events OF
his life. The following is in his own
words.
Il was exhibiting in the city Of Balti-
more. We were playing a piece in
which one OF my tigers was TO sud
denly leap from above me. as il TO
kill me. After il would Jump on me
we would roll around on the floor
TO all appearances engaged in mortal
combat.
" The theatre I'm which we were play
ING had a large pit. and il was filed
almost TO sufTooation that evening with
boys and men. This time tho tiger
jumped over my head and was flying
Tor the pit when I caught him by the
tail and hauled him back.
needn't tell You that standing room
was made mighty quick i'm that pit
when they saw the animal coming
They rushed out pell-mel. yelling and
screaming FOR me to hold ON TO him"
When Edwin Forrest was playing
at the old Bowery Theatre in New
York City, his piece was followed by an
exhibition OF lions by their trainer,
Herr Rriesbach
During their stay there Forrest re-
marked one day that he had never ex-
perienced The emotion caused by fright
that he was never scared iu his life.
Dricsbach heard the remark and one
evening took Forrest home with him
They entered a house and after paSS-
ing through long and devious dark
passages, Driesbach opened a door and
said
." This way, Mr.. Forrest"
As Forrest entered the door was
slammed behind him. Forrest felt
something touch his leg I'm the dark
ness and reaching down his hand
touched what he thought was a cats
back, which he gently stroked A
rasping grOwl greeted the motion and he
saw two fiery eyeballs glaring at him.
" Are YOU afraid, Mr.. Forrest" asked
the liOn-tameT, who was invisible in the
darkness.
Forrest replied Not a bit" when
the liOn-tamer said something and the
CrOwl decpened and the back began to
arch. Forrest held out for few minutes,
when he exclaimed:
Now let me out, you scoundrel.
OF III break every bone in your body"
The Lion King kept him there and
he did not dare TO move a finger. while
the lion kept rubbing against his leg.
Forrest finally promised champagne
supper if Driesbach would let him out.
which was done and the bet was imme-
dlaielN paid.
The Lion King was to some extent a
practical Joker.
On one occasion when he was exhib-
iting in New York, he had entered a
den of animals, and was going through
the customary performance one Satur-
day night when he was suddenly
stretched on his hack and a large
Brazilian tiger was on his throat and
the other animals we're wildly dashing
about the cage.
Drie-aach's voice was heard calling
TO- aid in a hOarsc manner. The au-
dicucc became excited and women
shrieked. Several keepers ran TO the
PROSTATE lon-tamcrs aid, and he was
dragged from tho cage.
He cHmc from behind the cage with
his face and tights covered with crimson
liquid like blood. He was hastily taken
upstairs where a physician. who was
conveniently near, examined him and
said that although seriously Injured.
the liOu-tamer would live.
The next day Driesbach appeared on
the streets with his face covered with
strips OF court plaster and his arm in
sling. His friends were greatly excited
over his escape, but their sympathy
turned TO disgust when they learned that
the sore on the hOn-tamer's face had
been squeezed from a sponge filed with
rose pink, and that the affair was an
advertising dodge arranged by the man
agement Of the menagerie.
While travelling along the Ohio River
one season Herr Driesbach was wanted
in Cincinnati to give an exhibition at
the old Woods Theatre
He was showing in GAINESVILLE when
he received a fiattering offer by tele-
graph, and he accepted. Hastily caginE
a tiger in an ordinary store box he pro
ceeded to the Ohio River and started
for Cincinnati by boat
He registered himself as Herr Dries
bach and the tiger as Colonel Alex
ander"
No one save the captain of the boat
knew who Colonel Alexander" was,
although he was assigned to Driesbachs
room in the boat.
After the boat put of, the passengers
became jolly from frequent centre shots
on a black bottle. 1t was decided to
visit Drieshach's room and ascertain
if he had anything good. The lion
tanner assented, and taking his com
panions thither opened the door for
them. A bottle was found, and Dries
bach excused himself to get a pitcher
OF water.
The tiger was not visible when the
crowd entered the room, having crawled
under a bunk to which he was chained,
as his tanner had removed him from
the store box.
Presently those inside the room heard
a scratching and growing and Colonel
Alexander emerged from under the
bunk and prepared TO leap. The crowd
rushed headlOng for the door, through
which they scrambled in their hurry to
leave the room.
Dricsbach met them outside and
laughed heartily at their fright, and
taking the tigers chain led him around
the boat for passengers TO fondle.